These days, hiring a makeup artist for your business can be quite an ordeal. With the growing popularity of DIY and online tutorials, “Makeup Artists” have been popping up everywhere; either self-taught by tutorials and books, freelance, or professionally trained. Resources and tips are everywhere and easily accessible. It can sometimes be tricky to determine whether or not a possible candidate will be able to be consistent with their work and have the proper knowledge and etiquette that is currently in demand for makeup artists. Luckily for you, we’ve come up with a list of key things to look for during an interview.
- Start the assessment right away. Yes, the focus is primarily makeup, but also interaction. How does she/he interact with you and the model; is there direct eye contact, confidence, is she friendly and personable? Make sure she takes time to understand exactly what the client wants and follows through. They should be asking basic questions, such as “Do you have any allergies, what type of makeup do you wear on a day to day basis, what styles and trends are you more drawn to, etc”. A good makeup artist makes their clients look great, a GREAT makeup artist makes their clients look and feel amazing, and establishes a connection and trust with them that leaves a positive impact on them from the time the appointment starts to finish.
- Kit! What is a makeup artist without one? Sometimes artists that are just starting out may not have a wide variety of products, but it is important to invest in respectable brands such as MAC, Makeup Forever, NARS, and Stila, as well as having more natural/mineral lines like Vancouver based Youngblood, and bareMinerals. They should have enough of a selection to accommodate light to dark skin tones, and know how to mix and add to adjust to different skin shades. Sensitive skin is also a common issue that can be avoided if the artist is knowledgeable and has the appropriate products. Makeup brushes are another obvious staple for artists, and they should have a variety of durable but affordable brushes for all techniques (brands such as Sigma, Royal & Langnickel, MAC) as well as some higher end lines that are super high quality and work amazingly (we love Japanese brushes by Hakuhodu!). Pay attention to how they use the brushes! Too light or too firm of application could indicate that they lack confidence or technique.
- Take careful note of their hygiene and their overall cleanliness. Does the artist present themselves as clean, put together, and professional with no strange or unpleasant odours/sights? Do they seem sickly or unclean? When setting up their work station, they should always sanitize or wash their hands before they start, set up products and tools in an organized manner, and clean their hands again immediately before touching their model. If they cough, sneeze, touch their hair or nose at any point, they should touch up with hand sanitizer or wash their hands again. Their brushes should absolutely be in good condition, cleaned after EVERY use, or sanitized in 99% alcohol. Not only should they be visibly clean, they should smell clean. There is nothing more unpleasant than having a brush swept across your face and getting a hearty whiff of old, musty brush. Not cool.
- If they use specialty products such as the popular Beauty Blenders (available at Prép– Get yours now!), they should be cleaned thoroughly. We recommend using the Beauty Blender soap for cleaning them. All brushes and tools used should be deep cleaned at the end of the day and dried upside down. Maintaining proper cleansing and sanitation of supplies is extremely important and will aide in the prevention of spreading bacteria from client to client.
- The finished look will give you the best indication of whether you should hire the artist or not. The model should be 100% happy and in love with her new look, and if she isn’t, the job isn’t done. Notice her body language and her reactions. Final touchups and fixes should be made without seeming like they are rushed and makeup should be finished and sealed with a good setting spray. Artists should also have on hand a variety of primers for the face, eyes, and lips to keep the makeup in place and continue looking fresh. Its an added bonus to find an artist who is also skilled in hairstyling as well. At Prép Beauty Parlour, we like to send out our most versatile artists to jobs first.
- The final decision of whether you hire or not should not be a difficult one. If the artist clicks well with you and the model, can demonstrate a variety of techniques, is clean, professional, knowledgeable, and friendly, and leaves you will a good feeling, then give it a shot. Not everyone is a hit, but not everyone is a miss either. You should feel comfortable and at peace with your decision, and confident in your new team members abilities. Most of all, beauty should be FUN and EXCITING!!
Prép Beauty Parlour is located at 1054 Hornby Street in beautiful downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. We specialize in nails, eyelash extensions, waxing, massages, facials, event & bridal hair & makeup. We’d love to hear from you! Email inquiries to info@prepbeautyparlour.com. Check out our 5 Star Yelp page here! Don’t forget to follow and like our Instagram and Facebook pages!
